Toronto-based Trinidad Drilling Ltd. floorhands Julio Serrato, left, and Jaime Gonzalez work on the first drilling of the Reveille 1H Chesapeake Energy Corp. natural gas site in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S., on ... more

Rig worker Jason Presley's oily arms are seen as he waits in the rig office to place the next drill bit on the Napp Unit #1H in the Barnett Shale oil field in Johnson County ,TX, SSW of Ft. Worth seen Tuesday Aug 31, 2004. less

Rig worker Jason Presley's oily arms are seen as he waits in the rig office to place the next drill bit on the Napp Unit #1H in the Barnett Shale oil field in Johnson County ,TX, SSW of Ft. Worth seen Tuesday ... more

Devon Energy hosts 125 interns Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in Denton. The interns are on a field trip to the company's operations in the Barnett Shale, the largest natural gas play in Texas; and second on the boom in natural gas shale operations in the U.S. less

Devon Energy hosts 125 interns Tuesday, June 10, 2008, in Denton. The interns are on a field trip to the company's operations in the Barnett Shale, the largest natural gas play in Texas; and second on the boom ... more

Rig workers Jason Presley, left, and Levi Denno, work with drilling pipe in preparation for the next insertion just beneath the deck of the Napp Unit's #1H platform in the Barnett Shale oil field in Johnson County ,TX, SSW of Ft. Worth seen Tuesday Aug 31, 2004. less

Rig workers Jason Presley, left, and Levi Denno, work with drilling pipe in preparation for the next insertion just beneath the deck of the Napp Unit's #1H platform in the Barnett Shale oil field in Johnson ... more

A gas processing outlet is ready for connection if the system requires additional capacity is seen at the Meadows Gathering Facility in the Barnett Shale oil field in Johnson County ,TX, near Ft. Worth.

A gas processing outlet is ready for connection if the system requires additional capacity is seen at the Meadows Gathering Facility in the Barnett Shale oil field in Johnson County ,TX, near Ft. Worth.

Photo: Andrew Innerarity, Houston Chronicle

A gas processing outlet is ready for connection if the system... Photo-5672037.77017 - Houston Chronicle

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Because of lower natural gas prices, production has been cut back on wells in formations such as the Barnett Shale. This production facility by Chesapeake is in Fort Worth, Texas. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT) less

Because of lower natural gas prices, production has been cut back on wells in formations such as the Barnett Shale. This production facility by Chesapeake is in Fort Worth, Texas. (Ron T. Ennis/Fort Worth ... more

Photo: RON T. ENNIS, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Because of lower natural gas prices, production has been cut back... Photo-5672038.77017 - Houston Chronicle